Sexual misconduct on air by Odisha man: police to quiz Indigo crew

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Feb 3:

Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr RP Sharma said today that the police will quiz crew member of the Indigo flight on which an industrialist allegedly misbehaved with a woman on January 27.

R K JHUNJHUNWALA

“As we have planned to file a charge sheet soon in a local court in the city, it is important for us to gather sufficient evidence to punish the culprit, who has been booked under Section 354-A of the Indian Penal Code (making physical contact and advances involving unwelcome sexual overtures),” Dr Sharma said.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the woman shortly after the flight from Mumbai landed at Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar, Airfield police arrested the 60-year-old businessman RK Jhunjhunwala.

Narrating the incident, the Commissioner said the 30-year-old woman, who hails from Bokaro in Jharkhand and is a fashion designer by profession, reported at the local police station in the afternoon on January 27 that while she was travelling in an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Bhubaneswar, the Jhunjhunwala, sitting right behind her, allegedly touched her inappropriately by inserting his hand through the gap in the seat.

The woman ignored the first overture, but brought the matter to the attention of the cabin crew when the man repeated the act,. Other co-passenger also noticed the act, said the Commissioner.

Theelderly man then begged apology for his act. Later when the flight landed at Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar, she first lodged a complaint with the CISF and then reported it at the Airfield police, he added.

“We have come to know that there are many cases pending against Jhunjhunwala, whose family lives in Bidyut Marg in Bhubaneswar, in Rourkela. We have sought case details of thecases against the accused from them,” the Commissioner said.

Jhunjhunwala was granted bail by a local court here. “Though it is a cognizable offence, it is bailable in nature.  He has deposited his passport with the police and has given an undertaking that he will appear for investigation as and when asked. The investigation is on with the police looking at all angles,” said the Commissioner.

The two-minute video – showing Jhunjhunwala slumped in his seat inside the plane, his face partially covered by his hand as the woman shouts at him – has gone viral on social media.

Also Read

Comments are closed.